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Top Church of Ireland minister reveals his same sex marriage

Carlow-based Reverend marries his boyfriend of 20 years

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, September 5, 2011, 7:31 AM

Updated Monday, September 5, 2011, 9:37 AM

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Church of Ireland minister joined with his boyfriend of 20 years

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A well known Church of Ireland Minister has revealed details of his marriage to his long term boyfriend of 20 years.

Carlow based Minister Tom Gordon Dean married his same sex partner in a civil ceremony in July.
The Portadown-born Rev Dean outlined details of his wedding to BBC Radio Ulster.

A former lecturer at the Church of Ireland theological college in Dublin, Rev Dean is a co-ordinator of religious programmes involving the Protestant churches for Irish national radio.

He has been dean of the Cathedral of St Laserian, Leighlin, in the diocese of Cashel and Ossory since last year.

The reverend’s wedding and public announcement has been welcomed by Changing Attitude Ireland, a group of Church of Ireland members working for the affirmation of same-sex couples.

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“Dean Tom Gordon’s civil partnership is evidence of the growing visibility and acceptance of same-sex couples within the Church of Ireland,” said the group’s secretary Canon Charles Kenny said.

“I know that many people in the Church of Ireland will join me in extending our congratulations to the dean and his civil partner.”

This is believed to the first civil partnership involving a serving Church of Ireland cleric although the Irish Times claims was a previous civil partnership involving a retired Church of Ireland minister.

The Church of England has witnessed several ministers marry since British legislation on same-sex unions in 2005.

However, the Church of England requires serving ministers to affirm they will remain celibate in the partnerships according to the Irish Times.

The paper reports that the English church’s stance is that a person’s sexual orientation is ‘irrelevant to their suitability for Episcopal office’ but that someone involved ‘in a sexually active relationship outside marriage is not eligible for the episcopate or other ordained ministry’.

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Kilsally | Sep 08, 2011, 10:09 AM EDT

sorry eirmach not danoloingsigh

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DanOLoingsigh | Sep 08, 2011, 07:21 AM EDT

hmm Kilsally...not my high horse...I didn't mention obey?

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Kilsally | Sep 07, 2011, 09:33 AM EDT

`the anglicans` and `we have enough` - them and us????whats all that about. You have to be Roman Catholic to be Irish?

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Kilsally | Sep 07, 2011, 08:56 AM EDT

I`m with the Evangelical Fellowship and other groups who have released a joint statement : Our desire is for a continuing and growing unity within the Church of Ireland and to see such unity expressed in a holiness and morality that is both personal and corporate. We acknowledge our common fallenness and acknowledge too that sexual sin is neither the only digression from God's design for humanity nor is homosexual activity the only way God's gift of sex is debased.

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Kilsally | Sep 07, 2011, 08:55 AM EDT

hmm DanOLoingsigh not quite sure why you are on a high horse regarding marriage vows `to obey` since the bible tells women to submit to their husbands ...which is balanced by the following verses telling a husband to love his wife and that both are equal in Christ.

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Collette2 | Sep 06, 2011, 10:19 PM EDT

Let's not be distracted what the Anglicans are doing; we have enough of our own issues to contend with.

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eiriamach | Sep 06, 2011, 05:03 PM EDT

The Anglican liturgy has a beautiful marriage ceremony. In the USA, the dreaded words "to obey" have never, since we drove the British out, been part of the vows. The vows have always been identical and the partners full equals. By next Advent, Anglican liturgy may be the last great Christian liturgy left in English, so I'll quote a little from the marriage prayers: "Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy. Amen.... Make their life together a sign of Christ's love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair. Amen.... Give them such fulfillment of their mutual affection that they may reach out in love and concern for others. Amen." In Ireland, the Anglican Book of Common prayer has been available for several centuries in the Irish language as well as in English.

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DanOLoingsigh | Sep 06, 2011, 03:09 PM EDT

OldMariner – In my experience the CoI maintains a very moderate stance on bedroom activities, and perhaps the call for celibacy is mostly aspirational, just as the post-confessional ‘sin no more’. Still, anything to keep the choirboys a bit safer eh? It’s a bit of a stretch to blame them for the ‘power and reach’ of Rome…1937 constitution and all that. They see themselves as catholic, and their services reflect this, but they do not accept papal supremacy, nor since disestablishment, any role for a monarchy. Reassuring to read that Georgie boy couldn’t resist an opportunity to air his xenophobic, racist nonsense.

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mcdolan | Sep 06, 2011, 12:05 PM EDT

The world will survive.

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JamesMartin | Sep 06, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT

Sl'ainte... another bid for Love & Peace against trouble, sorrow and prejudice on this wonderful verdent island. Slan!

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MHB1995 | Sep 06, 2011, 09:55 AM EDT

I believe in "TO EACH HIS OWN & LIVE & LET LIVE" Aside from this issue I would like to see when and who won the FREE TRIP TO IRELAND COMPETITION that was advertised on this web,or is this a way of getting E-mail addresses. A response woul be apreciated!!!!!!!!

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johhnyb | Sep 06, 2011, 03:59 AM EDT

Hi oldmariner. Thanks for the reply. It may well be that the Anglicans repressed others in Ulster including Presbyterians. But my point is that one has to get over that at some stage. They aren't doing it now nor probably in the last century. If some people can get over the unspeakable acts of terrorism perpetrated in the last 40 years surely others should at least try to get over injustice which is now beyond living memory. But I don't see much evidence of that on this site. What do you think?

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casualMBA | Sep 05, 2011, 08:59 PM EDT

The changing better world has a catholic monstrosity?

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pilib04 | Sep 05, 2011, 07:27 PM EDT

Excuse me, but the proper term is priest, not minister when it comes to the Church of Ireland.

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mamaginnty | Sep 05, 2011, 05:54 PM EDT

Know Leighlin well and never hear of Dean Gordon, but wish them both the very best.

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